Jerry Bruckheimer just dropped some serious news for racing fans: the F1 movie is officially getting a sequel. The legendary producer confirmed development is underway during the Academy Awards luncheon in Los Angeles, putting an end to months of speculation that had the internet buzzing since the original film became a massive hit last summer.
The timing couldn’t be better. F1, which hit theaters in June 2025, has crossed the $630 million mark worldwide, making it Apple Studios’ biggest theatrical success ever and Brad Pitt’s highest-grossing film of his entire career.
Not bad for a movie about a fictional Formula 1 team, right? The film follows Sonny Hayes, a washed-up driver played by Pitt who gets pulled back into the sport to mentor a young hotshot named Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) at the struggling APXGP team.
Riding high on Oscar momentum
The announcement comes while F1 is still basking in Academy Award glory with four Oscar nominations for the 2026 ceremony: Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.
That’s pretty impressive considering the last sports film to snag a Best Picture nod was Million Dollar Baby way back in 2004. Director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the same duo behind Top Gun: Maverick, clearly know how to deliver spectacle that resonates with both audiences and the Academy.
Bruckheimer didn’t hold back his excitement when talking to the BBC about working with Pitt for the first time. “It was a long journey to get the movie made because we had to endure a couple of strikes, but in the end, the movie entertained audiences around the world,” he said.
“I never worked with Brad Pitt before and it’s really a thrill to work with Brad.” The film also had Lewis Hamilton on board as co-producer, which gave it that authentic F1 flavor fans appreciated.
What we don’t know yet
Here’s where things get interesting: Bruckheimer stayed tight-lipped about the details. No production timeline, no plot hints, and most importantly, no confirmation on whether Brad Pitt will return as Sonny Hayes.
At 62, Pitt absolutely killed it in the first film, but Hollywood sequels are tricky beasts. Bruckheimer did mention he’ll be involved in casting decisions, which suggests they’re keeping their options open.
Back in November 2025, Kosinski told Variety they were “in that stage of just kind of dreaming up what that next chapter for Sonny Hayes would be and for APXGP,” adding that the global reaction made it clear people wanted more. Whether that means continuing Hayes’ story or pivoting to new characters in the same universe remains anyone’s guess.
For now, we’ll just have to wait and see if lightning strikes twice. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony happens March 15, 2026, so maybe we’ll get more sequel details during the Oscar campaign. One thing’s certain: F1 proved that motorsport films can dominate both the box office and awards season, and Hollywood is ready to go another lap.
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